Attention, working memory, and phenomenal experience of WM content: memory levels determined by different types of top-down modulation.

Jacob, J., Jacobs, C. and Silvanto, J. 2015. Attention, working memory, and phenomenal experience of WM content: memory levels determined by different types of top-down modulation. Frontiers in Psychology. 6 1603. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01603

TitleAttention, working memory, and phenomenal experience of WM content: memory levels determined by different types of top-down modulation.
AuthorsJacob, J., Jacobs, C. and Silvanto, J.
Abstract

What is the role of top-down attentional modulation in consciously accessing working memory (WM) content? In influential WM models, information can exist in different states, determined by allocation of attention; placing the original memory representation in the center of focused attention gives rise to conscious access. Here we discuss various lines of evidence indicating that such attentional modulation is not sufficient for memory content to be phenomenally experienced. We propose that, in addition to attentional modulation of the memory representation, another type of top-down modulation is required: suppression of all incoming visual information, via inhibition of early visual cortex. In this view, there are three distinct memory levels, as a function of the top-down control associated with them: (1) Nonattended, nonconscious associated with no attentional modulation; (2) attended, phenomenally nonconscious memory, associated with attentional enhancement of the actual memory trace; (3) attended, phenomenally conscious memory content, associated with enhancement of the memory trace and top-down suppression of all incoming visual input.

Article number1603
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Journal citation6
ISSN1664-1078
Year2015
PublisherFrontiers
Publisher's version
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01603
Publication dates
Published19 Oct 2015
FunderERC - European Research Council

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